Snyder says he’s still willing to work with Legislature on health care law

Gov. Rick Snyder says he’ll continue to push the Legislature to create a place online to comparison shop for health insurance. The health care exchanges are an element of what’s required under the federal healthcare law that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Republican leaders in the state House say they’re in no hurry and plan to hold hearings before making their next move. The governor says time is growing short to comply with the law, and the state risks losing its share of federal funds to enact its exchange.

“As a practical matter, we’re having a good dialogue, and I hope we can make progress in terms of having the financial resources to start the planning process," said Snyder.

The governor says he’s not ready to threaten unilateral action such as creating the exchange by executive order. A House panel will hold its first hearing on the health care exchange next week. The Legislature will meet next for one day in mid-August. The next deadline in the health care act is mid-September. That’s when states are supposed to have decided what types of coverage insurance carriers will have to offer.